Copyright Parade
When dealing with all of the various rules and regulations for different airlines, it can seem like bringing what you actually need on a trip in just a carry-on and small personal item is impossible. While I have many tips for how to pack your carry-on as efficiently as possible, today’s tip is for something else entirely. What you wear on the airplane can directly affect how much you can pack in your carry-on. I’m a frequent traveler–and often go on trips for a variety of reasons. Sometimes I am traveling for my writing work, other trips are for Broadway tours that I perform in and many times I am solo traveling for my own enjoyment. Within all of these types of trips–I’ve had to strategize how I pack. I always aim to feel like I’m lugging around the least amount of things while also fitting as much as I possibly can inside my luggage. This definitely takes practice and skill, but by now, I have it down to a science. One of the most important things to consider when packing is what you wear on the airplane. You need to be strategic about this–and the tips I have here may surprise you. Related: The Best Carry-On Packing Method, According to Experts Wear Your Layers On The Flight To Save Suitcase Room In a TikTok made by viral content creator Heartlynrae, she shows herself getting her luggage weighed at the airport. Unfortunately, her bag is overweight and she has to figure out another option. She hilariously shows herself layering up with items out of her suitcase, throwing on various sweaters, hats, jackets, pants, and scarves. Now, this is an issue coming from some serious overpacking–however, sometimes these things happen. While you don’t need to (and shouldn’t) layer as much clothing on as Heartlynrae did, she does make a good point with this video. You can easily remove weight and space in your luggage by wearing layer-able items on the plane. You don’t want to go overboard with this, definitely keep it realistic, but doing this can save you tons of room in your carry-on. One thing that I always do is I wear a regular shirt on the plane that isn’t extremely thin, that way I’m wearing something that would have taken up space in my carry-on. Then, I always wear a sweatshirt or cardigan over top. Lastly, I take whatever my heaviest jacket or layer is and tie it around my waist. This works great for a jean jacket or leather jacket. With this method, I’m wearing two extra layers that are no longer taking up space in my suitcase. Lastly, I highly recommend wearing your bulkiest shoes on the airplane, which can be a major space saver. Related: I’m a Carry-On Only Traveler—the 3-3-3 Method Changed the Way I Pack Will I Overheat On The Plane With This Hack? One main concern that a lot of people have with this hack is that they will overheat on the plane. Full disclosure here, I’ve actually seen someone pass out from this hack going wrong. I definitely don’t want this to happen to any of you–so listen up! If you’re someone who gets hot pretty easily, the first thing you’re going to do when you board the flight is remove your layers. One option is to lay one of the layers on the seat behind your back as an extra cushion, which actually makes the seat feel a bit cozier. After that, you can lay the other layers over top of your lap, almost like a little blanket. Your chest, hands, and head will still be kept cool, which will help to make you not overheat. If you’re still a bit too warm, you can also fold and place one of the layers on the actual seat itself and sit on top of it. I’ve done all of these things–and while it may seem a bit crazy, trust me, it’s worth it to be able to fit everything without having to pay for extra luggage!
